Card-exhibiting device.



R. S. SARVER.

CARD EXHIBIIING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY [7. I915. 1,213,272. Patented Jan. 23,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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IIVI/E/VTOR A fro/m5 r R. S. SARVER.

CARD EXHIBITING DEVICE.

APPLICATlON FILED MAY I7. 1915.

Patented Jan. 23, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

( o O on 26 I 56 0 a a n a a 4 m 5% 7 b I 5 6 8 7 WI M 48 J 7 a 4 4 H v o a a 0 4, 2 a 2 w 0 Q I 6000007 0 O O O 00 O 9 00 0/0 0 O I 7. u a 4, n v .2 0000 I G D 0.01 On vO 0 0 :5 009037 0 2 5 2 0 1 5 2 2m 2 a ATTbR/VEY RICHARD S. SARVER, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

CARD-EXHIBITI'NG DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 1917.

Application filed Mag/"17, 1915. Serial No. 28,799.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD S. SARVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Card-Exhibiting Devices and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others.

skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a card exhibiting device, and more particularly to a device of that character wherein advertising cards are displayed and changed at intervals, in order to place a plurality of cards successively in display position; the principal obect of the invention being to provide mechanical structure for carrying and successively positioning the cards. In accomplishing this object I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure I is a perspective view of a card exhibiting device containing my improvements, and wherein the working parts are inclosed in a suitable cabinet. Fig. II is a transverse section on the line II II, Fig. III. Fig. 111 is an enlarged perspective view of the card elevator and trip mechanism, showing the parts as they appear when a card is held in display position. Fig. IV is a similar view, showing the parts as they appear when a card has been dropped from the display position, and illustrating the placing of a succeeding card. Fig. V is an enlarged detail perspective of part of the elevator and the guide for the card rod as the parts appear when the card starts on its elevating travel. Fig. VI is an enlarged detail perspective of the upper end of the apparatus, showing a card rod as it is delivered to the feeding guide. Fig. VII is an enlarged detail perspective of part of one of the cards and its mounting, including the hanger rod.

Referring more in detail to the drawings: 1 designates a cabinet, which may be of any suitable form, and comprises the end members 2.3, a front e having a cut out display opening 5, and a top cover 6, which is preferably inclined, to enhance the appearance of the cabinet.

Fixed to each of the. endmembers 23, near the top ofthe cabinet, is an inclined track -8, which preferably consists of an angle member havingone of its lips fixed to the end pieceof the cabinet, and which terminates back of the plate 9 at the front of the cabinet to form a drop opening 10, and fixed to the end piece, below the. track 8 and in reverse arrangement, is an overhanging guide 11; the track 8 being inclined toward the front of the cabinetand the guide 11 inclined downwardly toward the rear so that supporting rods will travel down the track toward the front and beneath the guide toward the. back.

Fixed tov the front edges of the end pieces 23, at the upper part of the cabinet, is the stop plate 9 having a lower portion turned inwardly and inclined downwardly toward the back in spaced and parallel relation to the guide 11 to form atrackway 14.

Fixed to. the end piece between the track 8 and guide 11- and spaced inwardly from the plate 9, is a bar 15 arranged parallel to the plate to form a guideway 16 into which the card supporting rods are delivered and through which the rods may travel from the track 8 to the lower track 14; a similar bar 17 being located at the back of the cabinet and between the. upper end of the track 8 and lower end of the guideway 11 to form a channel18 between the same and a guide plate 19 that is fixed to blocks 20 on the end piece 2 or 3.

Revolubly mounted within the cabinet, at upper and lower positions, are shafts 21 and 22, the ends of which are mounted in suitable bearings on the end pieces; the upper shaft bearings 2324i being preferably mounted on the upper edges. of the end pieces 23, and fixed on said shafts adjacent the ends of the cabinet are sprocket wheels 2525 and 262 6'. over which sprocket chains 27 are run; the shaft 21 being provided with a driving sprocket 28 to which power may be applied from a suitable motor (not shown), so that the upper shaft may be rotated to carry the chains thereabout.

The power is so applied to the shaft that the upward travel of the endless belts 27 is within the guideway 18, and each of the belts has mating links 29 provided with elevator teeth 30 that project forwardly along the tracks 14 so that they may engage the card rods 31 that lie on the tracks at the lower end of the incline or at the rearward position, in order that when the chain is traveling, the teeth will pick up the rods and carry the same to the top of the cabinet.

The rods 31 extend across the cabinet and are supported at their ends on the opposite tracks 14 by rollers 32; the cards 33 being pivotally supported from the rods by hangers 34 so that the cards may pivot on the rods and hang vertically at all points throughout the travel of the rods.

Pivotally mounted at the upper forward corners of each of the end members 23, preferably on an inset block 36, is a head 37, and pivotally mounted on the lower front corner of the head 37 is an arm 38, which projects through a slot 39 in a plate 40 on the connecting bar 15 into the channel 16 between said bar and the front plate 13, so that when a card rod drops from the tracks 8 into the channel it is caught on and supported by the arms 38; the arms 38 being normally held yieldingly projected into the channel by a. spring 41, which is connected with the upper rear corner of the head and with the lower end of a bar 42 which is pivotally mounted on the back guide plate 17; the spring holding the head inclined forwardly and the upper end of the bar 42 inclined rearwardly across the rear channel.

Pivotally mounted on the upper forward corner of the head 3'7 is an arm 43, which lies in the guide slot 39 in the plate 40 and which, when the lower head arm is projected to its limit, is held backwardly out of the channel, but is adapted for projection into the channel and across the path of the card rods, when the head 37 is rocked. The rocking of the head 37 is accomplished by engagement of a rising card rod with the end of an arm 45, which is integral with the head and extends rearwardly therefrom and across the rear channel 18, so that when a rod riding upwardly on the chain belts engages the arm, the head is rocked to withdraw the lower arm 38 and project the upper arm 43, so that a card rod supported on the lower arm is dropped and the upper arm projected into the channel to catch the rod of a succeeding card.

In order to ease the fall of the cards from their upper to their lower positions and thereby obviate possible damage to the cards and to the apparatus, 1 provide stepped stops which catch the card rods at different elevations throughout the height of the display cabinet, such stops comprising arms 47, one of which is pivotally mounted at each end of the cabinet, preferably on an inset block 48, and has a free forward end adapted for projection into the channel, and a rear end 49 that is connected with the head arm 45 by a link 50. Also pivotally mounted on the block 48 is an intermediate arm 51, the forwardend of which is also adapted for projection into the channel below the arm 47, and the rear end of which is pivotally connected with the head arm 45 by a link the link connection of the arms 47 and 51 being such, however, that they are normally held at difierent inclines so that the arm 47 will first project into the channel, when the head arm is rocked to catch the card rod, and upon continued rocking of the head arm will be turned on its shaft to deliver the rod onto the intermediate arm 51, which has been forwarded to supporting position as the arm 47 reaches delivery position; the link connection being such that when the card rod is dropped from the arms at the display position, it will first catch on the upper arm 47 then on the arm 51, and as the arm 45 reaches the upper limit of its travel will be delivered from the intermediate arm 51.

At each end of the cabinet is pivotally mounted a base 54, having its forward end 55 normally projected into the front channel 16, and its rear end into the rear channel 18, so that the forward ends of the paired arms will catch and support a card rod when the latter is delivered from the intermediate arms 51.

The preferred construction of the guide mechanism is that wherein the rollers are of such diameter that they will lie back of the vertical guide plates 15 and 17, and the lower guide plate 11, to insure against displacement of the rods. and in order to guide the rods at the top of the cabinet, I provide rails which are spaced outwardly from the ends of the cabinet by blocks 57, so that the rollers may travel back of the rails as they run down the upper inclined tracks.

In using the device, presuming the parts to be constructed and assembled as described, and with the chain belts provided with a suitable number of elevator teeth, when the cards are in place and the belts in operation, a card rod supported at the bottom of the tracks 14 is caught by the elevator teeth and lifted upwardly through the guide channels 18 to the top of the cabinet, where it rocks the plates 41 and is delivered over the inclined upper edges of the plates 41 onto the upper tracks 8, down which the rollers travel to carry the card to the front of the cabinet; the pivotal mounting of the card and the spacing of the end mechanisms being such that the cards are supported in vertical position throughout the vertical and inclined travel. hen the rollers reach the bottom of the inclined tracks, they pass thereover and the rods drop in the front channels 16 until they are caught on the lower head arms 38 and held so that the cards may be displayed through the front of the cabinet. While a card is so supported, in display position, the elevator lifts asucceeding card-in the same manner and the second rod passes up the channel rock ing the rear arm5l and, when it approaches the top of the channel, rocks the head arm 45. Rocking of the head arm draws the rear supporting arms 38 back so that the card rod held in display position drops in the channel. I

The rocking of the arm 45 notonly rocks the supporting arm 38, but also-the arms 17 so that the latter are projected forwardly into the guide channel in time to catch the card rod 38, so that the card rod is temporarily supported on the arms a7. F urthcr rocking of the arm 45 turns the arms l? downwardly so that the card rod is eventually delivered from the arms 47 and onto the intermediate arms 51, which have been rocked down to catching position in time to intercept the card rod as it is delivered from the arms 47 it being apparent that at the point of delivery and interception the arms 47 and 51 are in such close relation that the drop of the card rod is slight and not sufficient to cause any perceptible jar or strain. Further and ultimate movement of the head arm 45 under influence of the rising card delivers the falling card rod from the intermediate arms 51' onto the short ends 55 of the lower arms 5st. Owing to the difference in length of the ends of the lower arms 54, the weight of the rear ends overcomes the weight of the card and rod so that the rod is held on the arms until the arms are rocked by elevation of a succeeding card. Presuming that the second card rod has left its contact with the arms 45, passed the plates 41, and reached the front of the cabinet, it will drop downthe channel 16 onto the arms 38 and be held in place while a third rod is picked up by the elevator. This third rod then rises in the channel 18, and rocks the arm 5% to drop the first card rod, which then travels down the lower track 14 to the pick up position, the operation continuing in this manner with successive cards.

Should a card rod pass through the channel onto the track 8 before a card rod has been dropped by the arms 38, the rollers of the rod supported by the arms 38 will support the succeeding rods from its rollers so as to space the two rods sufficiently for the upper arms 43 of the head 47 to pass therebeneath, so that when the arms 45 are rocked, the upper arms 43 will be projected to support the upper card rod when the lower one is dropped, so that when the arms 45 are released, the upper arms will be retracted to drop their rod and the lower arms projected to catch and hold the same in the 1. The combination with an elevator, of a primary supporting member adapted for,

actuation by a member on the elevator and secondary supports adapted for actuation by the primary member and for successive projection to supporting positions.

2. The combination with an elevator, of a primary supporting member adapted for actuation by a member on the elevator and secondary supports adapted for actuation by the'primary member and for successive projection to supporting positions, and yielding'means for automatically returning the parts to initial position.

3. The combination with an elevator, of a primary supporting device adapted for actuation by a member on the elevator, second'ary supporting arms, and links connecting the secondary arms with the primary arm and adapted for initially retaining said secondary arms at different angles relative to the primary arm and successively projecting the same to functional position upon actuation of the primary arm.

4. The combination with an elevator, of a pivotally mounted. head having an arm adapted for actuation by a member on the elevator, supporting and stop arms on said head adapted for movement to functional position upon actuation of the head arm, a plurality of stepping arms pivotally mounted and having link connection with the head arm and adapted for movement to functional position at different stages of the movement of said head arm.

5. The combination with an elevator, of

a pivotally mounted head, having an arm.

adapted for actuation by a member on the elevator, and having a supporting, arm, a secondary supporting arm pivotally mounted and having link connection with the head arm, the secondary arm being normally rethe elevator and the other of said members for actuation by the first supporting member, for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination with spaced belts, of frames mounted adjacent the belts and comprising forward and rear vertical guideways, upper and lower inclined guideways, elevator links on said belts, rods adapted for support on said links, and primary supporting and secondary stepping arms adapted for actuation by a rod on the elevator and for successive projection into the front vertical guideway, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with spaced belts, each comprising elevator links, having tripping members thereon, of spaced frames having forward and rear vertical guideways and upper and lower inclined guideways, the upper guideway comprising tracks, rods adapted for support on said elevator links and having rollers adapted for travel on said tracks and within the guideways, in clined plates projected across the rear guideways near the upper ends thereof, yielding means for urging said plates to their inclined positions, and a-primary supporting arm having a member projected into the front guideway, near the upper end thereof, and having a member adapted for actuation by a rod rising on the elevator.

9. The combination with spaced belts, each provided with paired elevator links, of front and rear vertical guideways and of upper and lower inclined guideways, pivotally mounted plates adjacent the rear guideways, springs for yieldingly urging the plates toward the elevator belts, a primary support for holding a rod in an upper position in the front guideway, and having means operable by a rod rising with said belt, and stepped supports operable from the first named arm, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination with an elevator, of a primary supporting arm adapted for actuation by a member on the elevator, a plurality of stepping arms having relatively short and long radius members, and links connecting the said radius members with the first named arm, for the purpose set forth.

11. A card exhibiting device comprising guideways, card supporting rods adapted for travel in the guideways, an elevator for lifting the rods, and arms adapted for projection into the guideways at different elevations to step the rod from an upper to a lower position.

12. A card exhibiting device comprising a forward guideway, supporting arms projected into the upper portion of the guideway, stepping arms adapted for successive projection into the guideway to lower the rod, and means operable by an ascending rod for actuating said arms.

13. The combination with front and rear guideways and tracks connecting the guideways, of an elevator for lifting a card rod through the rear guideway, a supporting arm at the upper portion of the front guideway, means operable by a rod rising in the rear guideway for actuating said supporting arm, and stepping arms adapted for projection into the front guideway at different elevations forreceiving a descending rod and delivering same to a succeeding arm.

13. The combination with front and rear guideways and tracks connecting the guideways, of an elevator for lifting a card rod through the rear guideway, a supporting arm at the upper portion of the front guideway, means operable by a rod rising in the rear guideway for actuating said supporting arm, stepping arms adapted for projection into the front guideway at different elevations for receiving adescending rod and delivering same to a succeeding arm, a supporting arm at the lower portion of the front guideway and having a portion projected into the rear guideway for actuation by an ascending rod.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

RICHARD S. SARVER.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, I). C. 

